CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Ryan Odom coached two games against forward Kalu Anya, when Anya played at St. Louis and Odom was leading VCU. Anya scored eight points combined in those contests.

“He wasn’t known as a shooter at all there,” Odom said Tuesday. “But he’s pretty good at shooting. I think that will be an area that will be good for us. He’s not Steph Curry. Not any of that. But he can shoot.”

A year ago, Odom’s post-summer observations about his rebuilt roster proved to be remarkably prescient.

He noted Kansas State transfer Ugo Onyenso’s better-than-expected outside shooting touch, freshman point guard Chance Mallory’s nose for running down long rebounds and international import Johann Grünloh’s toughness.

Onyenso went on to hit the first 10 3-pointers of his college career, Mallory – despite standing 5-foot-10 – averaged 3.7 rebounds per contest, and Grunloh played the postseason with a broken wrist.

So, Tuesday, when Odom talked about what he saw from his new UVA roster, the praise he heaped on Anya was worth taking note of.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound Massachusetts native shot 60.5% from the floor in 2024-25 at St. Louis, and hit just 12.5% of his 3s. He took an unusual redshirt last season to preserve his final year of college eligibility. 

Before St. Louis, Anya spent two seasons as a starter at Brown, connecting on 49% of his shots from the floor and 31.4% of his 3-point attempts. 

But through two weeks of summer workouts, Anya has impressed his new coaches.

“I think I’m a much better shooter than stats show,” Anya told Cville Right Now. “I think that they see it. Guys will definitely see it. I put in so much work in the gym and I truly am confident in myself.”

Tuesday, Odom praised Anya’s shooting ability and his defense, an attribute he also noted for fellow transfer Jurian Dixon, a guard from UC Irvine.

Anya, Dixon, guard Christian Harmon (Arkansas State), and guard Jan Vide (Loyola Marymount) are the transfer portal additions Odom picked up to supplement a core of key players UVA was able to retain off last season’s 30-6 NCAA Tournament team.

Grünloh, Mallory, forward Thijs DeRidder and guard Sam Lewis are all back, four of the top six scorers from last year’s squad. 

“Knowing that a group of guys wanted to stay here and be together was important,” Dixon told Cville Right Now. “The new guys are trying to come in and build on what they had and see how we can fit in and help this team win.”

A year ago, out of necessity, Odom imported a roster of alpha dogs, players who led their previous team in scoring (Malik Thomas at San Francisco and Lewis at Toledo) or who took the most shots (Jacari White at North Dakota State), or were considered NBA prospects (international recruits DeRidder and Grünloh).

This year’s offseason haul has a decidedly more role-player feel to it.

Anya put up 6.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game at St. Louis in 2024-25.

Vide put up 12.1 points per game, fourth for the high-scoring Lions.

Harmon and Dixon are coming off seasons where they led their teams in scoring.

Of course, the roles Odom was looking to fill on this year’s team aren’t as prominent as his needs in Year 1. DeRidder and Lewis figure to be the team’s leading scorers, Mallory its primary ball handler. 

With Grünloh slotted in as the starting lineup, four of five positions are filled.

Vide figures to be Mallory’s backup at point, though Lewis anticipates playing more with the ball in his hands this season, as well. 

UVA has high hopes that 7-foot-1 freshman center Favour Ibe can spell Grunloh at the 5-spot. 

Unlike last summer, Odom has a clearer picture of how his 2026-27 Cavaliers will play, but – like a year ago – he’s giving his new additions the chance to show what they can do in person.

It’s an opportunity Anya is eager to take advantage of.

“Being able to show what I’ve learned and show how much I’ve improved is going to be great this year,” he said. “I think I can do a lot of things that guys might not be too familiar with but I’m excited to show Wahoo nation what I can do.”